Hundreds of mourners joined the family of Donegal murder victim Mr Shaun Duffy at his funeral yesterday when a priest appealed for those responsible for the crime to come forward.
Mr Duffy (36), was murdered at his home at Meenacross, Co Donegal, last Saturday some time after he left a party at his mother's home nearby.
Mr Duffy's mother, Kathleen and sisters Antoinette and Carina were among the mourners. His father, Liam and five brothers, Frankie, Garvan, Kevin, Martin and Liam carried the coffin into St Patrick's Church, Meenacross.
Chief celebrant Father John Joe Duffy, a first cousin of the deceased, appealed for those who carried out the brutal murder to give themselves up.
He spoke of the terrible tragedy that has visited the Duffy family and the local community.
"A cloud lies over this beautiful and peaceful area of west Donegal.
"I ask you from the bottom of my heart and for the sake of Shaun's family, for the sake of this close-knit community and the elderly population, that you will pass onto the gardaí any information you have in relation to his death."
Local parish priest Father Séamus Meehan and neighbouring priest Father Pat Ward concelebrated the funeral Mass.
Mr Duffy's body was then taken to Maghery cemetery, some two miles away, and passed by the front door of the Strand Bar where he was socialising some hours before his death.
Meanwhile, gardaí last night examined a car found abandoned along the roadside near Gweedore, some 10 miles from the murder scene.
The Opel has been abandoned there since early on Saturday but only came to the attention of gardaí yesterday.
Searches of bogland and undergrowth near the murder scene were continuing last night, while detectives also continued their house-to-house inquiries.
Mr Duffy was due to appear in court next month to face charges of assault following an attack on a father and son at Meenmore, Dungloe.
He had appeared at previous court sittings in Dungloe where he pleaded guilty to the charges and was released on bail of €100.
Senior gardaí involved with the murder investigation have declined to comment on any link between the incidents.